Arc Raiders Lowest Input Lag Settings for Competitive Play
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Arc Raiders is a competitive extraction shooter where every engagement is high-stakes — dying means losing your gear. Getting shots on target a fraction of a second before your opponent decides the outcome. Most of the input lag in Arc Raiders is controllable through the video menu and your Windows setup. Here is the exact configuration for the lowest input lag in Arc Raiders.
Reflex on, frame generation off, Fullscreen, V-Sync off, and a frame cap below your refresh — that is the low-latency core.
Enable NVIDIA Reflex
Arc Raiders is built on Unreal Engine 5 and supports NVIDIA Reflex. In Settings → Video, set NVIDIA Reflex Low Latency to Enabled + Boost. Reflex stops the CPU from running ahead of the GPU and eliminates render-queue latency, which is most valuable during hectic multi-squad fights when asset streaming can spike GPU load. On AMD cards, enable Radeon Anti-Lag in Adrenalin instead.
Turn frame generation off
This is the critical setting for Arc Raiders. Both DLSS Frame Generation and FSR Frame Generation produce extra frames by interpolating between real ones, which makes the counter climb but adds latency — the engine must hold a frame to create the interpolated one. For competitive extraction play, disable frame generation. If you need more performance, use DLSS or FSR upscaling (Quality or Balanced mode) without frame-gen — upscaling alone adds minimal delay. More on that trade-off in DLSS vs FSR vs XeSS — Which Is Best for Gaming.
Use Fullscreen
Set Display Mode to Fullscreen, not Borderless. Exclusive fullscreen bypasses the Windows Desktop Window Manager and removes a frame of presentation delay. It also lets G-Sync and FreeSync operate correctly.
Cap FPS below your refresh rate
Use the in-game Max Frame Rate limiter and cap a few frames below your monitor’s refresh rate:
| Monitor refresh | Suggested cap |
|---|---|
| 144 Hz | 138 |
| 165 Hz | 158 |
| 240 Hz | 234 |
| 360 Hz | 350 |
Capping below your refresh keeps the GPU off 100% load so it never builds a frame queue — the core reason Reflex and a cap work together. See How to Cap Your FPS Correctly for the method.
Turn off V-Sync and latency-adding settings
- V-Sync: Off. Use G-Sync/FreeSync plus your frame cap for tear-free, low-latency frames instead.
- Motion Blur: Off. Blur adds processing cost and obscures fast movement.
- Lower Shadow Quality, Effects, and Global Illumination if your GPU runs hot — UE5 lighting is demanding and a GPU above 99% spikes latency.
Keep the GPU below 99%
When the GPU sits at 99–100%, frames start queuing and latency climbs. The combination of Reflex plus a frame cap below your refresh keeps load in the safe range so inputs reach the screen quickly. Monitor GPU usage with an in-game overlay during a real extraction, not just on the menu.
Use a high mouse polling rate
A 1000 Hz (or higher) mouse polling rate samples your aim far more often than a 125 Hz mouse, trimming the input stage. Set the highest stable rate in your mouse software.
Fix Windows-level latency
- Set Windows to a High Performance power plan (Control Panel → Power Options).
- Enable and test Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling (HAGS) — see Enable Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling.
- Turn on Game Mode in Windows Settings → Gaming.
- Raise your Windows timer resolution with Tier1Timer. The default Windows timer ticks slowly; raising the resolution samples input more often and smooths frame pacing. Auto Mode applies on launch and reverts on exit. Full explanation in The Ultimate Guide to Timer Resolution for Gaming.
Related guides
- Arc Raiders Stuttering Fix
- Arc Raiders Best Settings for Maximum FPS
- Arc Raiders DLSS / FSR / Frame Generation Settings
- How to Minimize Input Delay for Competitive Gaming
- How to Measure Input Lag
The lowest input lag in Arc Raiders comes from Reflex Enabled + Boost, frame generation off, Fullscreen, V-Sync off with a cap below your refresh, and a clean Windows setup. Keep the GPU off the ceiling and your extractions land more reliably.
Frequently asked questions
How do I reduce input lag in Arc Raiders?
Enable NVIDIA Reflex in the video settings, set Display Mode to Fullscreen, disable V-Sync, and cap your frame rate a few frames below your refresh rate. Arc Raiders runs on Unreal Engine 5, so keeping the GPU below 100% load is critical. These changes together remove most of the controllable delay in the game.
Does NVIDIA Reflex lower input lag in Arc Raiders?
Yes. Arc Raiders supports NVIDIA Reflex on supported GPUs. It stops the CPU from queuing frames ahead of the GPU and trims render-queue latency, which is especially valuable in intense firefights or when the game streams in environment assets. Enable it in Settings → Video and set it to Enabled + Boost.
Should I turn frame generation off in Arc Raiders?
For the lowest input lag, yes. DLSS Frame Generation and FSR Frame Generation insert interpolated frames that raise the displayed frame counter but add latency because the engine must hold a frame to interpolate. Disable frame generation for competitive play. Upscaling alone (DLSS Quality or FSR Quality) does not add the same delay and is fine to keep on.
Should I cap my FPS in Arc Raiders?
Yes. Use the in-game frame rate limiter and set a cap a few frames below your monitor's refresh rate — for example 138 on a 144 Hz display. This keeps the GPU below full load so it never builds a render queue, which is how Reflex and a frame cap work together to cut latency.
Does timer resolution reduce input lag in Arc Raiders?
It improves input-sampling consistency and frame pacing at the Windows level. The default Windows timer ticks slowly; raising the resolution with Tier1Timer samples inputs more often and smooths frame delivery. It is a system-wide tweak that supports your in-game Reflex and FPS cap settings.